Damian's room at Wayne Manor was very different from the one he had back at the League's base in Nanda Parbat. It had the same dull shades of grey and black with subtle hints of deep brown but other than that it was very different. 

There was a bookshelf in the corner, a computer desk and quite an assortment of wooden structures in the other corner that upon closer inspection turned out to be little houses for his pets. Back at the League, his room had been simple but instead of the animal homes and books, there had been a full-length shelf of weapons, primarily swords. 

Talia couldn't help but observe the stark contrast both places had.

It made her think about the contrast between herself and Bruce, reminding her once again that they were from two different worlds and two opposing sides that could never have converged into one.

But Damian existed on that fine line between the two clashing sides; being born an assassin yet raised a vigilante. He had seen both lives and experienced them firsthand, choosing the latter for himself because it was no wonder much better than his days back at the base.

With the Waynes, he led a happy life. A life he could never have experienced if he stayed at the base with her and remained the successor to the League of Assassins. 

At times, she felt as if she had been terribly unfair to him as well as his father. She had claimed to love them but that love had bordered on an obsession and then taken the turn of extreme possessiveness. With Bruce, that obsession had resulted in him cutting off all ties with her and with Damian that possessiveness had resulted in him choosing to live with his father. 

Ever since Mona had come into her life, she had seen a lot of things change for herself, most prominently her own outlook and decisions. The more she began to care for her children, the more she began to see the shortcomings she had had in the past.

And she wanted to make up for that, perhaps that was why she was in Gotham at the moment, to spend time with Mona and Damian instead of taking them away from a pleasant life they deserved and were living at the moment.

Her eyes fell on the sketchbook at his study desk and out of curiosity, she picked it up. It contained sketches done in pencil and sometimes in ink pen, ranging from animals to landscapes and then to people. 

A few places were recognizable for her as she turned page after page to find the snowy peaks and frozen lakes of Nanda Parbat. But the sketches of people were what intrigued her most.

She recognized one as Jonathan, her son's best friend who she had met once before. There were a few sketches of Bruce, Richard and surprisingly a lot more of Tim. Tim's sketches were drawn quickly as the strokes were rough and seemingly driven with rage or frustration.

Unknown to her, those sketches were from that one year Tim had been missing and Dami's sketchbook was full of his sketches in an attempt to keep himself reminded of his annoying brother in his dreadfully long absence.

Her fingers glided over the papers slightly, stopping on a page with Tyler's sketch. Unlike previous sketches, the strokes were softer, capturing each detail perfectly. It was evident that a lot of time and effort had gone into that sketch. 

However, a meowing sound stopped her and she looked down to see a black cat at her feet, marble-like eyes focused on her as if warning her to put the sketchbook back.

"Pennyworth, come here," Damian's voice reached her and she turned to see him standing by the door.

The cat had obediently trotted off to Damian who had bent down on his knee, gently stroking the black fur. She put the sketchbook back and shortly after Damian had stepped in.

"Your snake isn't here, Mother. I had to keep it in a place away from other animals," he remarked.

"That's alright, I just came looking for you."

He nodded but his eyes had flickered slightly, indicating that he was nervous, "right."

"You are excellent at sketching," she complimented him, a soft smile gracing her features. 

It was an attempt from her to diffuse the nervousness building up inside him. Damian might never have felt nervous on any other occasion but with Talia, he involuntarily felt the need to prove to her that he could be a worthy heir and son.

Therefore, when it came to her opinion of him, he could get easily shaken.

And right then, he was slightly worried about what to tell her if she asked him about Tyler. He knew very well that she was just as observant as he was and if that was the case, then it would be futile lying to her.

"It's just a hobby," he replied vaguely then changed the topic, "are you going to stay here for a few days?"

"I was considering that," she answered, emerald eyes dimming slightly, "Mona wants me to stay and I hope you do too... You're not bothered by me being here, Damian, are you?"

He looked at her in surprise, "of course not. You're my mother, you can visit me whenever you want to and stay for however long you wish. I know Father has never imposed any restriction in this case either."

"Yes he hasn't and I am grateful to him for that," she took in a deep breath, "but tell me, Damian, would you want me to stay for a while?"

He nodded, "Ummi, you can stay for as long as you like. I... I don't have any objection."

She knew that was the closest to an affirmative answer she would get from him. Damian would never outright say that he wanted her to stay. He had taken after his father in that case; he seldom expressed what he truly felt.

"Let me show you my friends," he spoke up, breaking the awkward silence as he led her towards the assortment of wooden houses that he had carved and fixed himself.

The black cat, Pennyworth, had followed Damian as he went over to the houses, opening each of them one by one. Rabbits, hamsters and mice came out, all gathering around Damian who had a faint smile on his face.

It was no wonder that he preferred the company of animals and being with them made his mood improve a lot. A few seconds earlier, he had been nervous. But right then, that nervousness had faded and was replaced by contentment.

Talia sat down on the rug beside him, watching him introduce his friends. He had named each of them himself and some names were rather interesting, to say the least.

Her lips had turned up in a smile as she listened to him, deep down wondering how much she had missed out in his life just because she had the responsibility of the League on her shoulders.

She was the Demon Head and led a life far from normal. Yet right then, she craved that normalcy more than anything in the world.

"Damian... Are you happy?"

Her abrupt question took him by surprise and he looked at her, seeing a slightly forlorn look in her emerald eyes, "happy?"

"Yes. Are you happy here?"

He didn't reply immediately, pausing to think. His definition of happiness had never been concrete and had kept changing through the years.

At first, when he lived with his mother and grandfather, he thought that happiness was linked to power. That one could only be happy when all enemies were vanquished and when there was no threat lurking around.

But after coming to live with the Waynes, he had experienced many different meanings to the word happiness. Yet one meaning stood constant throughout; his happiness was in living with his family.

Happiness was staying with people he loved and cared for, happiness was looking after each other and sticking together through thick or thin. 

His eyes focused on her as he replied, "yes. I am happy. Things are very different from my life back with the League but I like it here."

A soft smile graced her features, "that's good to know."

"Why did you ask that all of a sudden?" He spoke up, unable to avoid that question, "is anything the matter?"

"I just wanted to know from you. I am your Mother, Damian. And even though I haven't been around for most of your life since you chose to stay here, all I ever want for you is your happiness."

"You've changed," he remarked but then quickly abridged the conversation, "not saying that in a bad sense... But you really have changed."

She nodded, taking in a deep breath, "you could say I am trying to learn from my mistakes. I have taken a lot of bad decisions in the past but I don't want to keep making such decisions. Especially not when it concerns you or Mona."

Silence engulfed the two after that and Damian decided to tell her about Tyler. He hadn't been expecting Talia to say all that she had just said but it gave him the motivation to trust her and tell her the truth.

"Ummi, I wanted to tell you something."

Her eyes softened, realizing what he was going to tell her, "go ahead."

"The boy you met today, Tyler Bennett, he's not just a friend of mine," he had retrieved his gaze from her, that uncertainty and nervousness returning, "he has taken a very important place in both my heart and my life. The reason why I am happy here involves him too."

His cheeks had darkened slightly as he waited for her reply, the uncertainty gnawing at him again.

However, her soft tone and knowing glance took him by surprise, "I know that. I realized the second I saw him with you."

Her hand reached out and gently rested on his head, eyes softening even more. Damian felt as if that day was a surprise Damian day because so far everything that had passed had led him to get quite surprised. 

"And I also know that you were hesitant to tell me because you think I would have the same views as my father," she resumed, knowing it was time to clear everything up, "but my dear, I will never impose any restriction for you on who you should love. If he makes you happy and if you can trust him, then why should I object?"

Her slender fingers stroked his head affectionately, taking in how shocked he was.

"He's a delightful person and I really like him even though it was the first time I met him," she added, "I told him I'm glad he's in your life."

"You told him?"

The smile on her face widened a fraction, "when I told you I would accompany him to the shop, I had meant to talk to him about you. Don't worry though, he didn't tell me anything. I already knew."

"And how did you know?"

"Just like I said, I felt it and I wasn't wrong."

Damian could feel the burden from his shoulders lessening; he was glad he didn't have to lie to Talia anymore.

"Ummi, I really appreciate that you understand," he spoke up, eyes meeting hers at last, "thank you."

She stroked her head again, the smile on her face lingering still, "I want you to be happy, my son. And if he makes you happy then that's all that matters."

***